[MrHopeful215]

I graduated in 2012 and do not work in accounting. My role now isnt in accounting either and the reason why I passed the exams in 2016 was to further my career and try to become an expert at something, also because I have an accounting degree and didnt want my college years to go to waste, but I don’t know what to tell recruiters when they have asked me why I waited.

Does anyone have any specific reasons as to why they waited?

AUD - 82
REG - 78
BEC - 78
FAR - 76

[jessica8926]

I think the fact that you took this exam could be part of your explanation. Just say you wanted to have it completed before you started.

If you do not mind me asking why did you really wait so long? Were you not interested in getting into accounting right away?

AUD - 69, 77
REG - 74, 81
FAR - 75!
BEC - 71, 82

IL candidate!

Finally done (5/24/16)!! Yahooooooo!

[marqzho]

Tell them you didn't find your true passion before the exam. But one day you realized how much you love this career. That's why you choose to take the exam and prove it to everyone else 🙂 BSBSBSBSBS

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[MrHopeful215]

Basically when I graduated in spring 2012. I had 132 credits and I was 1 semester late from being grandfathered under the 120 credit rule for being a CPA. School was expensive so I chose to see if I could pass an exam before finishing the 18 credits. I ended up not passing FAR and decided that maybe this wasnt for me. Then in 2015 I realized that this is something I wanted to accomplish so i put my efforts into passing the exam and here I am today. I don't have an accounting job because I did not find a position upon graduation and ended up taking a temp position as an accounts payable. Then moved on as an accounting associate shortly after for about a year doing a lot of data entry and scanning/copying. For the past 2 years I have been a fund accountant which doesn't really qualify as accounting either.

AUD - 82
REG - 78
BEC - 78
FAR - 76

[MrHopeful215]

Basically my reason is that I did not have the funds to start in 2012 due to the new 150 credit rule, but after securing a stable position, I have been able to fund my journey towards becoming a CPA.

How does that sound?

I don't want to sound like i never wanted to do it because I always have wanted to become a CPA, but life got in the way.

AUD - 82
REG - 78
BEC - 78
FAR - 76

[Missy]

Thats not what I'd tell a recruiter at all. When interviewing,the questions asked always have a sub-question which is what they want to know. If a recruiter asks why you waited so long, the REAL question is “are you just here because you're desperate for a paycheck and would interview for McDonalds if it paid the bills or are you someone who is looking to contribute in a meaningful way to the company?”

You research what the position is first and you model your answer to that “I tried a few different avenues out of college, but learned that I really want to be an auditor because the internal controls that I had to use in my accounts payable position were the most interesting part of my job”.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Jdn9201]

Mr Hopeful, I think you are making a bigger deal out of this than it is. First, it's common for people nowadays to get jobs not related to their degree, at least to start out. Second, it's not like your jobs since college have nothing to do with accounting – they definitely do! Don't knock yourself and I wouldn't even look at it as waiting. All you should focus on is why x job is right for you, and how your previous experience has taught you x skills and you've accomplished y things that make you a great candidate for the job. If the recruiter spins it like you waited, then I agree with above – BS BS BS. 🙂 That's one of those things that others likely won't see it as an issue, so don't make things harder on yourself by making it an issue.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[MrHopeful215]

lol you are completely right. I forgot that everything is a test.

Thank you for that. I will have to mold my answer a different way.

AUD - 82
REG - 78
BEC - 78
FAR - 76

[jessica8926]

I agree with previous posters. I definitely think your previous and current job are very applicable to accounting! I thought you were going to say you work in retail or servicing jobs which really don't have a lot to do with accounting. Id slip in there that you wanted to pass the test so that is what you did while working towards getting more accounting experiences in all your past and current role. Then like everyone else said throw in how your experiences have set you up as a good candidate for the role you are applying for! You will be fine! Good luck!

AUD - 69, 77
REG - 74, 81
FAR - 75!
BEC - 71, 82

IL candidate!

Finally done (5/24/16)!! Yahooooooo!

[Author]

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